Beloved Friends and Fellow Disciples of St. John S Lutheran Church

December 11, 2013

Beloved friends and fellow disciples of St. John’s Lutheran Church,

This is the season of giving. We celebrate God’s giving of his Son Jesus to the world, to live among us, teaching and healing and proclaiming the inbreaking of God’s kingdom. We plan and work feverishly to find the “right” gift for those we love. As we wait expectantly for the celebration of the coming of the Christ into our world, and as we work frantically to complete the preparations that we have come to consider most important for this celebration, we also must work with some realities of our congregation.

The fact is that though our giving to St. John’s has increased in the last few years, our expenses have increased even more. We are at the point of needing to borrow from some undesignated funds to pay our bills this month.

Martin Luther once observed that we must undergo three conversions in our faith life: first is conversion of our minds, where our knowledge of Jesus’ teaching and life of giving begin to make sense. The second is conversion of our hearts, where we grow connected to our Lord in deeper and more meaningful ways. Finally is the conversion of our wallets, where we offer all that we have to be used for God’s purposes. That last is the hardest for most of us, but our willingness to do so indicates the depth of our trust and faith.

And so we ask: Is your wallet converted to God’s purposes? Have you found joy in giving as a way of serving? Can you find a way to give an extra gift to your congregation in this giving season?

Some have suggested that for those who struggle the most, an extra $ .25 per week makes a strong statement of faith. For those who can manage it, an extra $ .50 or even $1.00 each week also makes a strong statement. Others of us might increase our weekly giving by 10%, so that if you contribute $20.00 each week, you begin to give $22.00; or $50.00 becomes $55.00 and so on. And for those who are financially blessed, a significant extra gift would be most welcome.

Please pray about this and listen for God’s nudges and hints. Then prayerfully offer yourself and your resources for God’s use.

In Christ's Love and Service

Pastor Moll and Stewardship and Finance Committee

…they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means , “God is with us.” Matthew 1:23

“O come, O come, Emmanuel…” is one of the most hauntingly beautiful of all the Advent hymns. It captures our yearning for a better world. It expresses our hope that God will come to us to free us from “Satan’s tyranny,” to open the way to heaven, to teach and to guide, to clear away the darkness that oppresses us, to be with us. And it calls us to rejoice, because Emmanuel will come.

Advent is a time of preparation, of joyful preparation, to celebrate that great wonder that Almighty God chose to become human through the God-man Jesus. It can be difficult to hear the promise in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of our cleaning, shopping, bazaars and bake sales, decorating, Christmas concerts and programs. And yet that promise lies beneath all of this activity. The season of Advent reminds us that we need to slow down, catch our breath, and ponder just what this is all about: Emmanuel, God with us!

And sometimes we ask with John the Baptist, “is Jesus truly the one?” (Matthew 11:2-11). When our lives seem confined and defined by darkness, hopelessness, and fears, along with grief and doubts, it can seem unreal.

But then we look again and see the hope, the promise, that God is indeed with us. God is here to stay with us “until the end of the age.” (the end of time).

When we pause, and we remember all that we have seen and heard of God’s loving concern for all of us, especially the “unimportant ones,” through Jesus’ reaching out to heal the sick, the blind and the lame, to give us images of God’s vision for all humanity and indeed for all creation, we know once again that Jesus is truly the One sent by God to bring us back into a loving relationship with God.

Rejoice! Emmanuel comes! That is the culmination of Advent, when we rejoice that God truly has come and continues to come to us in all our need and hope. Very soon it will be Christmas. As you worship, may you offer your life again to our Lord in response to his great love. As you give gifts to others, may it be because of God’s giving to us. As you unwrap your gifts, may they remind you of God’s greatest gift of himself.

And may you be blessed with the peace and joy and love that God offers to each of us every day.

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

t Pastor Moll

December 11, 2013

Dear Member of St. John’s:

As yet another Christmas season approaches, and we celebrate the birthday of our lord, Jesus Christ, let us also rejoice and thank our God. We have been truly blessed this year by the generosity of our members who have helped to improve our church. Let us remember to thank those who have given so much to each of us through the year!

We would like to thank Pastor Moll for all she has undertaken and guidance given here at St. John’s through this transitional period and present her with a token of our appreciation. If you would like to contribute to a gift for her, please send your contribution by December 22nd to:

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

Attn: Teresa Miller or Barb Moyer

300 Queen Street

Northumberland, PA 17857

If you would like, you may discretely hand your contribution to Barb Moyer,

Teresa Miller, the church secretary, or you can place in the offering plate using a pink envelope and mark it “Christmas Gift”. Please make checks payable to:

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

Thank you for your generosity, and may you and your families have a wonderful Christmas season.

Yours in Christ,

St. John’s Church Council

.

Pastor Moll Bill Sue

Thursday, December 12Social Ministry Committee, 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 15Baby Jesus Birthday Party, 11:30 a.m.; caroling and Mitten

Tree wrapping 11:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Youth Group/Parent Meeting, 5-6:00 p.m.

Caroling, 6:00 p.m. – congregation members invited to join us.

Saturday, December 21Kathryn’s Kloset, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Monday, December 23OFFICE CLOSED

Girl Scouts, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 24OFFICE CLOSED

Family Service with Communion, 6:30 p.m.

Candlelight Service with Communion, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 25Jesus’ birthday

Friday, December 27Messenger folding, 9:30 a.m.

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857.

Periodical postage paid at Northumberland, PA.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to St. John’s Messenger,

300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857.

ST. JOHN’S MESSENGER December 11, 2013 Volume 93, Issue 25

St. John’s Evangelical

Lutheran Church

570-473-3770

This Sunday at St. John’s

December 15, 2013

3rd Sunday in Advent

8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion

8:45 a.m. Sunday School for Preschool-6th Grade

9:00 a.m. Sunday School

10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion

Next Sunday at St. John’s

December 22, 2013

4th Sunday in Advent

8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion

8:45 a.m. Sunday School for Preschool-6th Grade

9:00 a.m. Sunday School

10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion

Church Office Hours Mon-Thurs 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fri 8:30 a.m.-Noon

MarthaSue Moll, Pastor

William J. Jacavage, Director of Music

January 1

Elaine Kohl

JoAnn Lynch

Jeffrey Mertz

January 2

Julie Bollinger

Jacki Cunningham

Donald Ferguson, Jr.

January 3

Brian Attinger

Kelly Seebold

January 4

Gloria Auman

Nancy Miller

January 5

Jane Ressler

January 6

Lee Miller

Brett Morton

Andrew Seal

Jeffrey Specht

January 7

Janet Biddinger

David Roush, Jr.

Nathaniel Snyder

January 8

Cassie Boyer

January 9

Shirley Longacre

Seth Shaffer

January 11

Blair Bahner

Carly Boyle

J. Thomas Dodge

Owen Long

Judy Ray

January 12

Tara Wolfe-McCoach

January 13

Rebecca Wagner

January 14

Nickolas Auman

Sara (Lahr) Snyder

January 16

Robert Crebs

Brandon Paul

January 18

Tyson Bly

Robert Lamparter

Charles Mertz

Gregory Seal

Judy Spector

January 19

Patrick Guyer, II

Jazmine London

January 20

Edward Campbell

Ashton Heddens

Tyler Williams

January 21

Laurie Robinson

January 23

Hunter Bowersox

Brad Crebs

Tanner Feaster

Nahsya Jason

Kathryn Lyter

Maryellen Paulhamus

January 24

Bonnie Aleta

Amanda Mull

Patricia Rich

January 25

Kanen Bucher

David Eisely

January 26

Melissa Williams

John Seal

Margaret Smith

January 27

Robert Snyder, III

January 28

Hallie Wombacher

January 29

Jeremy Hoffman

Rebecca Steiner

January 30

Russell Haddon, Jr.

January 31

Jena Bogovich

Lisa Smith

Service Assistants for January 2014